PhD Courses in Denmark

Organiser: Associate Professor Torsten Berning, email: tbe@energy.aau.dk

Lecturers: Associate Professor Torsten Berning, Aalborg University

Associate Professor Vincenzo Liso, Aalborg University

Associate Professor Samuel Araya, Aalborg University

Associate Professor Søren Højgaard Jensen, Aalborg University

ECTS: 4

Date/Time: 27. August – 30. August 2024

Deadline: 06 August 2024

Place: AAU Energy, Pontoppidanstraede, Aalborg, Denmark

Format: in person

Max no. of participants: 25

Teaser/short description: We will cover the fundamentals of electrochemical energy conversion with a focus on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology and PEM, alkaline, and solid oxide electrolyzer technology. The course is a mix of theoretical classes and laboratory exercises.

Description: This PhD course is an introduction to electrochemical energy conversion with a focus on fuel cell technology (gas to power) and electrolyzer technology (power to gas). In detail, it will provide

•        An introduction to the thermodynamics of electrochemical energy conversion;
•        An overview of the different types of fuel cells and elecytrolyzers and their materials;
•        An introduction of the different ways of modeling of electrochemical devices and systems;
•        A familiarity with the different experimental methods to test and characterize electrochemical energy converters;

As the conclusion of the course, an attendee will be well prepared to understand and follow more sophisticated state-of-the-art literature in this field, to be able to understand simple (zerodimensional) models of fuel cell systems using software such as EES and know the benefits and drawbacks of advanced (multi-dimensional) models of the fluid flow in electrochemical devices that employ the methods of computational fluid dynamics. The attendee will also have an overview of the various experimental methods that can be employed to test electrochemical devices. This PhD course is aimed at recent graduates, professional engineers and the likes.

Day 1: Thermodynamics of electro-chemical energy conversion, Different types of fuel cells and water electrolyzers.

Lecturers: Torsten Berning, Vincenzo Liso. 8h.

Day 2: Fuel cell and electrolyzer components, fuel cell and electrolyzer modeling.

Lecturers: Vincenzo Liso, Samuel Araya. 8h.

Day 3: Experimental methods in theory and practice: Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, hot wire anemometry, Cyclic Voltammetry, Neutron Radiography.

Lecturers: Samuel Araya, Søren Jensen. 8h.

Day 4: Industrial perspectives: Current and future challenges. A visit by or from a local fuel cell manufacturer.

Lecturers: Søren Jensen, Torsten Berning. 4h.

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge in thermodynamics and modeling methods such as Engineering

Equation Solver (EES) and/or the methods of computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Form of evaluation: The groups of students will present the theoretical exercises and discuss their experimental results on the last day of the course. Questions will be asked by the teachers to individual students during the presentation. Evaluation will be “passed” or “failed”.

Course literature:

1.      R. O’Hayre, S.-W. Cha, W. Colella, F. B. Prinz: Fuel Cell Fundamentals, 3rd ed., Wiley, 2016.

2.      F. Barbir: PEM Fuel Cells - Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Elsevier, 2012.

3.      D. Bessarabov, H. Wang, H. Li, N. Zhao: PEM Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production: Principles and Applications, CRC Press 2015.

4.      S. Lvov: Introduction to Electrochemical Science and Engineering.